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This master thesis deals with the performance of existing reinforced concrete bridges strengthened with externally bonded carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP). One of the main aims of this work is to understand the functionality of such an external strengthening method applied to a concave surface in a heavy concrete structure such as a bridge. Another important goal is to investigate the bond behavior of this method. To accomplish the aforementioned aims a case study bridge is chosen to be examined. The Essinge bridge located in the central Stockholm, is the selected bridge in which this report will focus on. Externally strengthening an existing bridge is a method used to both preserve as well as improve the existing structure. Some examples justifying the need to use such a technique are: the degradation of materials or changes in the bearing capacity of the structure which might be the result of increased traffic loads. In the case of Essinge bridge, the structure is strengthened with externally bonded CFRP sheets after the extension of the bridge which led to changes in the statical mode of action of the structure. An additional reason which makes this case interesting to study is the ’’concave’’ surface on which the CFRP sheets are applied to. To study the Essinge bridge in detail, both a numerical analysis and a three-dimensional finite element model is used. All the numerical simulations are performed in the Abaqus software. It is important to mention that for the majority of the simulations a two-axle vehicle load of 300kN (per axle) is applied to the structure. Moreover, a quality assurance of the FE model is carried out to verify the functionality of the model. Some of the results coming from these analyses can be compared with measurements from the monitoring system placed on the bridge. Moreover, other simulation results could be compared with results coming from a test loading performed on the bridge on May 2021. From this comparison, a satisfactory agreement could be found in the peak values of normal strain in concrete and CFRP. Due to time limitations, only linear static analyses are performed. Consequently, in order to capture the non-linearity of the concrete, the Extended Finite Element Method (XFEM) available in Abaqus is used to model a possible crack in the concrete. More specifically, the crack is placed in the concrete part of the deck plate where the maximum value of normal stress is obtained. The bond behavior between the concrete and the CFRP sheets is modelled in two different ways. The first way represents a ’’perfect’’ bond between these two materials meanwhile the second one is based on the so-called Cohesive Zone Method (CZM). The fundamental difference between these two methods is that when using the CZM, a possible failure mode in the bond layer can be captured. Moreover, the input data and parameters defined in the CZM have a detrimental role in the obtained results. It can be noted that the results of the case study bridge cannot be generalized. On the other hand, a better understanding about the external strengthening method implemented on the example of Essinge bridge is obtained. By using the CZM, a vehicle load which could initiate damage in the bond layer could be found. / Detta examensarbete handlar om prestandan för befintliga betongarmerade broar som är externt förstärkta med kolfiberväv. Ett av huvudsyftena med detta arbete är att förstå hur en sådan förstärkningsmetod fungerar när den är applicerad på ett konkavt underlag av en tung betongkonstruktion, såsom en bro. Ett annat viktigt mål är att undersöka beteendet av bindningsskiktet som finns mellan betongen och kolfiberväven. För att uppnå de ovannämnda målen, undersöks en fallstudie bro. Bron över Pampaslänken, som ligger i centrala Stockholm, är den utvalda bron som denna rapport kommer att fokusera på. Att förstärka en befintlig bro externt är en metod som använts för att både bibehålla och förbättra den existerande strukturen. Några exempel som motiverar behovet av att använda en sådan metod är nedbrytning av material eller förändringar i konstruktionens bärförmåga som kan vara ett resultat av ökade trafikbelastningar. När det gäller bron över Pampaslänken, applicerades den externa förstärkningen efter breddningen av bron, vilket ledde till förändringar i strukturens statiska verkningssätt. En ytterligare anledning som gör detta fall intressant att studera är den konkava ytan för vilken förstärkningsmetoden används. För att studera bron över Pampaslänken i detalj, används både en numerisk analys samt en tredimensionell finit elementmodell. Alla numeriska simuleringar är utförda i programvaran Abaqus. Det är viktigt att nämna att för de flesta av simuleringarna appliceras en tvåaxlig fordonslast på 300kN (per axel) på konstruktionen. Dessutom genomförs en kvalitetssäkring av FE-modellen för att verifiera modellens funktionalitet. Några av resultaten från dessa analyser kan jämföras med mätningar från systemet med trådtöjningsgivarna som är placerade på bron. Andra simuleringsresultat kan jämföras med resultat som kommer från en provbelastning som utfördes på bron under maj 2021. Från denna jämförelse kan en överenskommelse hittas i de maximala töjningsvärdena i både betongen och kolfiberväven. På grund av tidsbegränsningar utförs endast linjära elastiska analyser. För att kunna fånga betongens olinjära beteende används den så kallade utvidgade finita elementmetoden (XFEM) som finns i Abaqus, för att modellera in en eventuell spricka i betongen. Mer specifikt placeras sprickan på den delen av farbaneplattan där de maximala normalspänningarna erhålls. Bindningsskiktet som finns mellan betongen och kolfibervävarna modelleras på två olika sätt. I det första sättet skapas ett ’’perfekt’’ band/skikt mellan dessa två material medan i det andra baseras modelleringen på den så kallade Cohesive Zone Method (CZM). Den grundläggande skillnaden mellan dessa två metoder är att när man använder CZM kan ett eventuellt vidhäftningsbrott fångas upp i bindningsskiktet. Dessutom har indata samt olika parametrar som är definierade i CZM, en stor påverkan på de erhållna resultaten. Det kan konstateras att resultaten från fallstudiebron inte kan generaliseras. Däremot har man fått en bättre förståelse för den externa förstärkningsmetoden som implementerats i bron över Pampaslänken. Genom att använda CZM hittas en fordonlast som kan orsaka skador i bindningsskiktet.

<p>Lateral loads on buildings, either caused by wind or seismic events, are resisted primarily by the in-plane strength and stiffness of the walls oriented parallel to the direction of the applied load. The concern associated with relying on unreinforced masonry (URM) shear walls to transfer the load to the foundation is that the typical modes of failure are characterized by brittle behaviour, with rapid decreases in capacity and very limited deformations once the ultimate load is reached.</p> <p>Traditional strengthening techniques have several undesirable properties, including being labour intensive and adding weight to the structure. Past research has shown that fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement is an effective method of increasing both the strength and ductility of URM. One of the most desirable properties of FRP is that it has a high strength to weight ratio.</p> <p>An experimental investigation was conducted to study the influence of surfacebonded fibreglass laminates on the sliding shear resistance of URM. The investigation was conducted in three phases:</p> <p>1 Phase One: Analyzing the performance of five different test specimen shapes retrofitted with GFRP to determine the most adequate configuration for further shear slip tests. The data was also of direct use as an evaluation of strength and behaviour of FRP reinforced masonry subjected to shear-slip failure. Thirty-seven shear slip specimens were tested to failure. The average increase in shear strength ranged from 3 .1 to 7. 7 times that of the unretrofitted counterparts.</p> <p>2 Phase Two: Assessing the feasibility of obtaining two sets to data from each test specimen.</p> <p>3 Phase Three: Assessing the shear-slip strength and behaviour of URM reinforced with fibreglass mesh, of different weights, adhered at two different orientations to the bed joint slip planes (0°190°, ±45°) using a modified mortar parging. Twenty-one shear slip specimens were tested to failure. Typically, for any given mesh weight, orienting the fibres at ±45° resulted in failure characterized by higher strength and less ductility compared to tests with fibres oriented at 0°190° to the bed joints. At ±45° orientation, the fibres ruptured at failure. When the mesh was oriented at 0°190°, the fibres pulled out of the cement parging, which limited the strength, but enabled specimens to undergo large deformations while maintaining fairly constant residual capacity.</p> / Master of Engineering (ME)

La presente investigación tiene como objetivo general proponer alternativas jurídicas para fortalecer el proyecto de responsabilidad social universitaria del año 2022 de la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad Católica Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo. Por consiguiente, el primer objetivo específico es interpretar de manera crítica las experiencias de las partes interesadas del proyecto de Responsabilidad Social Universitaria de la Facultad de Derecho del año 2022 de la Universidad Católica Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo. Y el segundo objetivo específico es analizar el proyecto de Responsabilidad Social Universitaria del año 2022 de la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad Católica Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo, desde la perspectiva y expectativas que tienen sus estudiantes y docentes. La metodología utilizada es cuantitativa, cuyos instrumentos han sido utilizados mediante las fichas textuales y el cuestionario denominado encuesta, que contó con la participación de alumnos, docentes y pobladores del proyecto de Responsabilidad Universitaria de la Facultad de Derecho en el 2022 denominado JUSAT. Las propuestas jurídicas consisten en: La transversalización en el plan curricular de la Facultad de Derecho mediante actividades formativas de Responsabilidad Social Universitaria, en el ámbito jurídico de asignaturas seleccionadas; y proponer que haya una clínica jurídica con personal humano, equipos adecuados para el estudio de las necesidades de los pobladores relacionados al ámbito legal. / The general objective of this research is to propose legal alternatives to strengthen the 2022 university social responsibility project of the Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo Catholic University Law School. Therefore, the first specific objective is to critically interpret the experiences of the stakeholders of the University Social Responsibility project of the Law School of the year 2022 of the Catholic University Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo. And the second specific objective is to analyze the 2022 University Social Responsibility project of the Law School of the Universidad Católica Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo, from the perspective and expectations of its students and teachers. The methodology used is quantitative, whose instruments have been used through the textual cards and the questionnaire called survey, which had the participation of students, teachers and inhabitants of the University Responsibility project of the Faculty of Law in 2022 called JUSAT. The legal proposals consist of: The transversalization in the curricular plan of the Faculty of Law through formative activities of University Social Responsibility, in the legal field of selected subjects; and to propose that there be a legal clinic with human personnel, adequate equipment for the study of the needs of the villagers related to the legal field.

Dagens urbaniseringstrend är mer komplex än tidigare. Boverket menar att inflyttningen till städerna fortfarande kommer att öka samtidigt som landsbygdsbefolkningen fortfarande är densamma. Orsaken till denna befolkningsökning i städerna är relaterad till flyktinginvandring. Denna förskjutning i befolkningens geografiska fördelning medför utmaningar och krav som måste hanteras. Den ökande befolkningen i städerna leder till brist på bostäder och andra byggnader, vilket i sin tur kräver innovativa lösningar för att möta efterfrågan. Ett alternativ till att utnyttja obebyggd mark är, att maximera användningen genom påbyggnation på befintliga byggnader. Påbyggnader erbjuder en möjlighet att exempelvis öka stadens bostadsutbud och kontorslokaler utan att expandera stadens geografiska område. För att bättre förstå tekniska utmaningar med påbyggnader, utförs en kvalitativ studie. Syftet är att undersöka och analysera hur bärande stomme och grundläggning har hanterats i praktiken i några olika fallstudieobjekt, samt att utforska perspektiven och riktlinjerna från myndigheter som till exempel Boverket och kommuner. Huvudmetoden i arbetet har varit semistrukturerade intervjuer. Intervjupersonerna inkluderar flera olika aktörer såsom till exempel konstruktörer, entreprenörer, geotekniker och representanter från olika myndigheter. Resultatet antyder, att den befintliga byggnadens bärförmåga är av avgörande betydelse för möjligheterna att genomföra en påbyggnad. Behovet av förstärkningsåtgärder varierar beroende på den befintliga byggnadens strukturella egenskaper och vilken verksamhet som bedrivs i den. Förstärkning av byggnadens stomme, med varierande metoder, var nödvändigt i samtliga fall medan grundförstärkning endast behövdes i hälften av fallen och genomfördes då med olika typer av pålning. Majoriteten av påbyggnaderna har utförts med en lätt stomme. Resultatet av arbetet kan ses som vägledande rekommendationer för framtida påbyggnadsprojekt. En central slutsats, är att samtliga undersökta befintliga byggnader kräver någon form av stomförstärkning. Vidare indikerar resultaten att en lätt påbyggnadskonstruktion föredras för att minimera påverkan på den befintliga byggnaden. En viktig rekommendation är, att upprätthålla en kontinuerlig dialog mellan konstruktör och entreprenör under hela projektets gång. Även om det för närvarande inte finns några specifika lagkrav eller förändringar som reglerar påbyggnader, visar resultaten, att kommuner har ett starkt fokus på förtätning av stadsområden. Detta inkluderar möjligheten till påbyggnader för att öka bostadstätheten och utnyttja befintliga resurser mer effektivt. Dessutom strävar Boverket efter att främja principer för cirkulär ekonomi, vilket innebär ökad användning av befintliga byggnader och material i framtida byggprojekt. Detta arbete kommer att analysera fyra olika genomförda påbyggnader, och två påbyggnader, som av olika anledningar inte har genomförts. Det är endast kontors-,parkeringshus- och flerbostadshus- byggnader som kommer att studeras. Detta arbete kommer inte att fokusera på den ekonomiska aspekten eller på miljöaspekter utan endast på de tekniska egenskaperna. / The current trend of urbanization is more complex than before. The Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning states that migration to cities will continue to increase, while the rural population remains the same. The reason for this population growth in cities is related to refugee immigration. The increasing city population also leads to lack of housing and other buildings, which in turn requires innovative solutions to meet demand. An alternative to using underdeveloped land is to maximize the use of existing structures by vertical extension. Superstructures offer an opportunity to increase the city's housing supply without expanding the city's geographical area. In order to gain a deeper understanding of these technical challenges associated with superstructures, a qualitative study is being conducted. The purpose is to investigate and analyze how the load-bearing structure and foundation have been managed in practice in various case study subjects, as well as to explore the perspectives and guidelines from authorities such as The Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning and municipalities. The main method used in the work has been semistructured interviews. The people who have been interviewed include several different actors such as construction engineer, contractors, a geotechnician and representatives from various authorities. The findings indicate that the load-bearing capacity of the existing building is crucial for the feasibility of an extension. The necessity for reinforcement measures varies depending on the structural characteristics and functions of the existing building. Strengthening the building's structure, using various methods, was necessary in all examined cases, while foundation reinforcement was required in only half of the cases, and was then carried out using various types of piling. All extensions have been constructed with a lightweight structure. The results of the study can be viewed as guiding recommendations for future extension projects. A key conclusion is that all existing buildings require some form of structural reinforcement. Furthermore, the results indicate a preference for a lightweight vertical extension construction to minimize impact on the existing building. An important recommendation, for a successful project, is to maintain continuous dialogue between construction engineer and contractor throughout the project. Although there are currently no specific legal requirements or regulations governing vertical extensions, the results show that municipalities have a strong focus on urban densification. This includes the potential for vertical extensions to increase housing density and utilize existing resources more efficiently. Additionally, The Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning strives to promote principles of circular economy, which involve increased utilization of existing buildings and materials in future construction projects. This work will analyze four completed extensions and two extensions that, for various reasons, have not been carried out. Only office buildings, parking structures, and residential buildings will be studied. This work will not focus on the economic aspect or environmental aspects but solely on the technical characteristics.

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters’ Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2013. / Background : Core strengthening may improve athletic ability by providing stability to the trunk, and as a result, stabilising the pelvis. The leverage from which cyclists generate power may be enhanced as a result of a stable pelvis, thereby improving the cyclist’s performance. In the popular, highly competitive sport of cycling, performance enhancement is much sought after. Despite its widespread use, research involving core strengthening in sporting situations is lacking, with studies investigating the effect of a core strengthening programme on cycling performance yet to be investigated. Objectives : To determine the participants’ cycling speed, power, cadence and completion time, and core strength in terms of objective findings, pre- and post- core strengthening intervention, in the whole sample and within the two age strata. To determine the participants’ heart rate in terms of objective findings, and the rate of perceived exertion in terms of subjective findings, pre- and post- core strengthening intervention, in the whole sample and within the two age strata. To determine the participants’ perception of change in speed, power and cadence post- intervention, in the whole sample and within the two age strata. Method : Forty-two asymptomatic cyclists performed two 1.5 km time trials, pre- and post- core strengthening intervention. Core strength assessments were performed pre- and post- intervention, using the Pressure Biofeedback Unit, and the maximum and average speed (km/hr), power (w) and cadence (rpm), and completion time (s) were recorded pre- and post- intervention, using the Computerised Electromagnetic Roller resistance Ergometer (Tacx Trainer). Heart rate and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded pre- and post- intervention, as well as the participant’s perception of change in speed, power, and cadence post- intervention. SPSS version 20 (SPSS Inc) was used to analyse the data, in the whole sample and stratified into two age strata. Results : ll cycling performance indicators, speed, power, cadence and completion time showed a significant improvement post- intervention, in the whole sample, and within the two age strata. Core strength indicators showed a significant improvement post- intervention, in the whole sample and within the two age strata. A significant decrease in rate of perceived exertion and corresponding heart rate measurements post- intervention was observed in the whole sample. Similarly, the younger age strata reflected a significant decrease in rate of perceived exertion, however heart rate measurements were not significant. In contrast, the older age strata showed significant changes in heart rate measurements, with no significance in rate of perceived exertion measurements. The majority of participants experienced an increased perception in all outcomes post- intervention. Conclusions: The results of this study found that core strengthening had a statistically significant effect (p < 0.001) on cycling performance, both in terms of objective and subjective findings. Future studies could address the effect of core strengthening in an endurance setting.

Background: The past two decades have witnessed transition from in-patient hospital settings to Community and Home Based Care in Zimbabwe. This is because of an increase in the number of people developing chronic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and cancers, and thus needing longer treatment durations. The increase in chronic conditions has mainly been attributed to the increase in incidence and prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune-deficiency Syndrome in Sub-Saharan Africa. Many Governments, including that of Zimbabwe, endorsed and promoted community and home based care to provide a continuum of care to the chronically ill. Despite the implementation of Community and Home Based Care programmes, no studies known to the researcher have been done to investigate the congruency of service users’ needs and the programme goals. Purpose: The purpose of the study is twofold; firstly to explore whether Community and Home Based Care interventions provide services that effectively meet users’ goals in a dynamic social environment and secondly, to develop guidelines for enhancing care provision as well as congruency of service users’ needs and programme goals. Methods: A mixed-method approach combining qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis was used. Concurrent collection of data with equal status was placed on both qualitative and quantitative data. For qualitative data interviews and focus groups were used with home based care service users, family care givers, and health providers. Structured questionnaires were used for the quantitative data. Framework: Imogene King’s Interacting Systems Framework and Theory of Goal Attainment were adopted to guide the study. These were utilised because of the assumption that mutual agreement on goals for effective care can be achieved through nurse-client interactions and communication Research findings: Community and Home Based Care programme in Zimbabwe does not comprehensively meet the needs of its service users. Service users have diverse needs and goals depending on the specific condition and symptoms they experience. They perceive access to medication for symptom management and pain control, food and financial stability, as priority needs. The study found that nursing services provided in Community and Home Based Care generally align with the physical needs of service users and was deficient in addressing the socio-economic and psycho-social needs of service users. Conclusion: No single sector can achieve the users’ and the programme`s goals of quality health on its own. The goals may only be realised when other stakeholders and relevant sectors contribute to the Community and Home Based Care programme, which requires diverse resources. Guidelines to enhance integration of Community and Home Based Care with social services were developed. / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor in Public Management, School of Public Management and Economics, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / The shortage of staff in hospitals resulted in the overcrowding of outpatients departments (OPDs) and long waiting times. The problems of the current health care system include the lack of access to transportation and high transport fees which cause delays in health seeking behaviours by patients or them resorting to traditional medicine in their neighbourhood. To alleviate the above issues, the new Primary Health Care (PHC) approach provides health care at a ward based and household level through community care giver (CCGs) and outreach teams. The study evaluated the management of rural ward-based primary health care in the UThukela District Municipality (UDM). The study intended to evaluate current performance systems in order to provide effective and efficient PHC; identify the role of the operational manager (OM) in the provision of PHC; and identify the factors affecting the performance of CCGs. A mixed methods approach was used amongst 368 CCGs and 17 OMs. Data was collected from CCGs using questionnaires while an interview schedule was used to collect data from OMs. The study showed that the performance management systems currently being used were not providing the desired performance management outputs. There were no performance bonuses to recognise best performing staff and therefore no increase in performance. The study also showed a significant relationship between the management of referrals and participation in the activities of PHC outreach teams. The clinic was not regularly giving feedback to the respondents and also not consistently conducting performance reviews. The findings indicated that OMs were playing various roles in the provision of PHC, namely policy and strategy implementation; leadership and governance; clinical care; allocation of resources; clinic budget management; supply chain management; and writing clinic reports. The extent of the allocation of resources to the wards varied from 43% for medicines and equipment to 31% for financial resources and only 18% for human resources. More than 95% of the CCGs viewed the availability of transport, resources, training and the provision of a stipend to be strong enabling factors for them to perform their work. Respondents indicated that monitoring and evaluation was done through reporting, performance reviews, feedback and supervision. The findings indicated that ward-based outreach teams are crucial in the delivery of PHC services in rural municipal wards within the Operation Sukuma Sakhe programme. Lack of management and supervisory support contribute to high rates of dissatisfaction amongst CCGs, as well as poor quality of work for community caregivers. There is a need for the Department of Health (DoH) to invest in the ward-based outreach teams (WBOTs) and allocate CCG budgets within the ward-based outreach teams. The study recommended that a review of monitoring and evaluation policy is required to clearly state the tools, activities and benefits of the implementation of the M & E performance management systems. The use of point-of-care technology by the WBOTs should be strengthened especially in deep rural wards. Therefore, biomedical technology will enhance point-of-care diagnosis, for instance, rapid home test kits for HIV diagnosis and pregnancy tests. The KwaZulu-Natal DoH should fast-track development of the sub-districts in order strengthen service delivery at a local level with top management ensuring development of OMs and PHC Supervisors in order to increase the level of competence and thereby improve service delivery at the PHC facilities. Another recommendation was to strengthen implementation of Operation Sukuma Sakhe (OSS) where the war room and the ward committee increase commitment to designing community-specific interventions with the engagement of community structures and government departments and local municipality through social planning, social action and locality development. Therefore, the results of the study should also influence the formulation of policies, programmes, methods and interventions which will enable UThukela District Municipality to improve health outcomes. / D

External post-tensioning is an attractive technique for strengthening reinforced concrete structures because of its ability to actively control stresses and deflections, speed of installation, minimum interruption for the existing structure, and ease of inspection under service conditions. However, external prestressing implies exposing the tendons to the environment outside the concrete section, which may lead to corrosion in steel tendons. Therefore, the interest in using fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) tendons, which are corrosion resistant, has increased. The present work investigated, experimentally and analytically, the flexural performance of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with externally post-tensioned Carbon FRP (CFRP) tendons, under monotonic and fatigue loadings. Initially, tensile fatigue tests were carried out on CFRP tendon-anchor assemblies to assess their response under repeated cyclic loads, before implementing them in the beam tests. New wedge-type anchors (Waterloo anchors) were used in gripping the CFRP specimens. The assemblies exhibited excellent fatigue performance with no premature failure occurring at the anchorage zone. The fatigue tests suggested a fatigue limit of a stress range of 10% of the tendon ultimate capacity (approximately 216 MPa). Monotonic and fatigue experiments on twenty-eight beams (152x254x3500 mm) were then undertaken. Test parameters included the tendon profile (straight and double draped), the initial loading condition of the beam prior to post-tensioning (in-service and overloading), the partial prestressing ratio (0.36 and 0.46), and the load ranges applied to the beam during the fatigue life (39% to 76% of the yield load). The CFRP tendons were post-tensioned at 40% of their ultimate capacity. The monotonic tests of the post-tensioned beams suggested that overloading the beam prior to post-tensioning increased the beam deflections and the strains developed in the steel reinforcing bars at any stage of loading. However, overloading had no significant effect on the yield load of the strengthened beam and the mode of failure at ultimate. It also had no discernable effect on the increase in the tendon stress at yielding. The maximum increase in the CFRP stress at yield load was approximately 20% of the initial post-tensioning stress, for the in-service and overloaded beams. A very good performance of the strengthened beams was observed under fatigue loading. The fatigue life of the beams was mainly governed by the fatigue fracture of the internal steel reinforcing bars at a flexural crack location. Fracture of the bars occurred at the root of a rib where high stress concentration was likely to occur. No evidence of wear or stress concentration were observed at the deviated points of the CFRP tendons due to fatigue. The enhancement in the fatigue life of the strengthened beams was noticeable at all load ranges applied. Post-tensioning considerably decreased the stresses in the steel reinforcing bars and, consequently, increased the fatigue life of the beams. The increase in the fatigue life was slightly affected by the loading history of the beams. At the same load range applied to the beam, increasing the amount of the steel reinforcing bars for the same post-tensioning level decreased the stress range in the bars and significantly increased the fatigue life of the strengthened beams. In the analytical study, a monotonic model that predicts the non-linear flexural response of the CFRP post-tensioned beams was developed and implemented into a computer program. The model takes into account the loading history of the strengthened beams prior to post-tensioning (in-service and overloading). Good agreement was obtained between the measured and the predicted monotonic results. A strain-life based fatigue model was proposed to predict the fatigue life of the CFRP post-tensioned beams. The model takes into consideration the stress-strain history at the stress raisers in the steel bars. It accounts for the inelastic deformation occurring at the ribs during cycling and the resulting changes in the local mean stresses induced. Good agreement between the experimental and predicted fatigue results was observed. A step-by-step fatigue design approach is proposed for the CFRP externally post-tensioned beams. General conclusions of the study and recommendations of future work are given.

La présente recherche vise à comprendre le processus ou le mécanisme de valorisation de la propriété industrielle aussi bien dans les pays développés que dans les pays en développement suite à la conclusion de l’accord historique ADPIC.L’analyse de données factuelles se rapportant à la protection de la propriété industrielle pharmaceutique en Tunisie nous oriente vers une modélisation possible de l’industrie pharmaceutique tunisienne.La recherche identifie deux voies ou stratégies d’exploitation des brevets : « license in » ou « license out ». Cependant, c’est le dépôt de brevet par les nationaux résidents qui fait défaut en Tunisie dans le domaine pharmaceutique, dominé par les biotechnologies à l’échelle mondiale.Le rapprochement des industries locales avec des partenaires scientifiques internationaux pourrait être une voie possible de valorisation. / We aim in this research to study how to assess the value of a patent in developed countries as well as in emerging ones, mainly according to the TRIPS.Modelization of the pharmaceutical industry in Tunisia has been possible when analyzing data evidence from pharmaceuticals patents in Tunisia.This research identify two strategies to capitalize on patents: « license in » ou « license out ».However, only few local industries in Tunisia are willing to file patents, even ifbiotechnologies dominate global pharmaceutical market.Being in touch with international scientific partners, signing contracts could help to valorize industrial property in Tunisia.